States have developed standards that establish the minimum expectations for their students; however, to make standards operational, it is important for districts not only to identify the essential or "power" standards in each content area, but also to "unpack" those standards into their teachable component skills and concepts. This curriculum framework provides valuable clarity to teachers about what specifically they are accountable for and also increases curricular coherence across content areas and grade levels. Once the essential skills and concepts have been articulated, they can be sequenced and paced according to the time needed to teach the standard to mastery. Having an accurate and efficient means of measuring progress over time is a critical component of any instructional improvement effort. Therefore, once districts have identified their essential skills and concepts, they need to decide what will be assessed, in what format, and when. More importantly, districts need to analyze the most appropriate rigor and cognitive depth required to demonstrate mastery of the standard being assessed.

The curriculum framework and assessment blueprints inform the development of common interim and formative assessments, guide teacher planning, and make it possible to set instructional targets and monitor progress. Lessons and instructional materials especially conducive to student mastery can then be identified or modified and made accessible to teachers. The process of aligning assessments to the curriculum and developing quality materials or resources makes it possible to set instructional targets that are based on what is actually taught.